I was planning to get a new pc and I have a very low budget and this is what I have, I really don't know much about computers so I thought it was a good idea to know what you guys' thoughts are on this before I make a decision to buy it or not.

 

i7 3820 @ 3.6Ghz 10MB Cache

Asus P9

8GB SDRAM 1333Mhz

1GB Hard Drive <--- Not a big deal ( I can buy a bigger one I guess)

Nvidia 560 1G DDR5

 

What I really want here is a constant 25 and above FPS while I fly PMDGs, Superbugs, and If I have to sacrifice the scenery, it doesn't really matter , all I want is a smooth cockpit experience, anything more is just a bonus!

 

Thanks,

Andrew

If I have to sacrifice the scenery

 

In my opinion, you can achieve smooth performance with proper tuning and configuration of practically any hardware combination, especially if one is willing to make sacrifices. I am also sure that the experts here will agree there is no silver bullet to ultimate seamless performance regardless of money invested or tweaking. Your rig proposal seems more then adequate for your mentioned goals. One thing to consider in upgrading is the added benefit of stellar performance of mundane everyday applications that are currently designed for much more modest systems.

 

Regards;

 

Fritz

Sounds good! How do you think it'll do if I fraps it? Half size and Full size?

Sounds good! How do you think it'll do if I fraps it? Half size and Full size?

 

Concentrate on Fritz's comments, '...especially if one is willing to make sacrifices. I am also sure that the experts here will agree there is no silver bullet to ultimate seamless performance regardless of money invested or tweaking.'

 

You have to take these comments seriously otherwise you will potentially be disappointed when you fly your PMDG 737 NGX into KSEA in heavy cloud cover in ORBX FTX scenery and expect to maintain smooth 25fps as was stated in your minimum requirement statement. I would agree though, coming from lesser hardware than your newly proposed system, that you can maintain 25fps & smooth cockpit if you are willing to dial back sliders a little here or there. Overclocking your new CPU is something you should consider too.

That makes sense... I'm not really into heavily populated areas and full sliders anyway. I was wondering if you COULD actually overclock the i7 3820? Again, I don't know much but I've done a little bit of research and they said I could (The Motherboard is a Asus P9X79).... It doesn't state in the specs that It has liquid cooling installed so what is the best, price-performance wise? Will it break if I turn on this so-called 'Turbo Boost' without liquid cooling?

Liquid cooling is cheap. One of the cheaper Corsairs will work wonders. They are a sealed system, no maintenance. The radiator will require a 120mm fan mount hole (either the top or rear). Installation is super easy.

 

Some cpus are overclockable, some aren't. The price difference is trivial. A cpu with a lesser spec that is overclockable is both cheaper and will wind up giving better f.p.s. than a high price one that is not.

 

All of my post above is in only true in general and there are lots of ifs ands buts.

 

The system you describe will run FSX well.

 

I have a i5 overclocked to 4.2 GHz and 560ti card. I have never had stutters or a non smooth scenery in flight (except when I had too many other programs running or it had been too long since I had rebooted the system, i.e. it had been over 24 hours since reboot). Actually that is only a little better than the one you described.

 

ORBX scenery (always!), all sliders max (I do mean all), running either plan G or FSTramp on a second monitor alongside. On the the hand none of my planes are f.p.s. hogs. In general I don't do jets except an early 707. I do have the more sophisticated prop sims A2A warbirds, Aerosoft PBY, and some sophisticated vintage large Vietnam era helicopters.

 

Watch your Power supply specs, you will need a very good one running that graphics card!

H60s, H80s, H100s from Corsairs sounds good, can they work for the 3820? Also, for the Power Supply, It says on the specs (website):

'Antec Gamic Case w/ 600W',I can't seem to find a separate bracket for the power supply so guessing the ps is 600W. Is 600W enough to run this? If not what is the power supply watts I should buy?